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Interview: Octopath Traveler 2 Devs on Series Goals, the First Game Skipping PlayStation, and More

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The first Octopath Traveler isn't available on PlayStation platforms, but its sequel is. Why did you decide to make Octopath Traveler II a multiplatform release?

Takahashi: Of course we have heard all the Octopath Traveler fans out there asking for a PlayStation release and the team also wanted to challenge ourselves to try to get the game on as many platforms as possible. Apart from that, we made the decision internally after observing the sales of other titles.

Have you thought about releasing the first game on PlayStation?

Takahashi: We did look into it. However, we wanted to focus all our efforts on developing Octopath Traveler II and this also links in to your next question about whether you need to have played the first game to enjoy Octopath Traveler II or not.

To reduce misunderstandings about this, we decided against trying to align a PlayStation release of Octopath Traveler with the release of Octopath Traveler II.

Do you think players can dive into Octopath Traveler II without playing the first game?

Takahashi: Yes, I very much do think they can dive into the series from Octopath Traveler II. Octopath Traveler II is set in a completely new world and is not linked to the story of the first game in any way, so players can be reassured that they can start from Octopath Traveler II without missing anything.

As implied in the title, this is a game about travelling and enjoying a journey. We felt that it was essential to set the game in a completely new world in order to give the player that feeling of excitement and anticipation when exploring it, wondering what lies down the next path or who could be living in the next town.

 

[Snowdonhoffen]

 

[Captain Toad]

So what everyone already knew, but not everyone was wanting to admit.

 

[jm89]

 

[BennyBlanco]

I hope people are buying this game. It’s really good.

 

[Three]

I think it's being misinterpreted but I'm sure it isn't far from the truth either.

 

[Danjin44]

There is no surprise biggest audience for this type of game are in Playstation and Nintendo, not on Xbox.

If you are fan of Japanese games, you buy Playstation, Nintendo and even PC over Xbox.

 

[Snowdonhoffen]

I think it's being misinterpreted but I'm sure it isn't far from the truth either.

Yup, what he meant to say is that it isn't on more platforms because Jim Ryan blocked it!

 

[phant0m]

I hope people are buying this game. It’s really good.

Picked it up to play on Steam Deck. It looks and plays like a dream!

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

so? if I understand right.
he is saying Xbox sells numbers are too low?

 

[Captain Toad]

There is no surprise biggest audience for this type of game are in Playstation and Nintendo, not on Xbox.

If you are fan of Japanese games, you buy Playstation, Nintendo and even PC over Xbox.

You don't have to look further than Lost Odyssey to see this truth. Microsoft gave it an honest shot. They made a truly great JRPG (they also made Blue Dragon) as an exclusive for Xbox 360, their console with their largest install base ever.

And most Xbox fans still said, "nah, we're good. Not our thing."

 

[Three]

Yup, what he meant to say is that it isn't on more platforms because Jim Ryan blocked it!

He wasn't even asked that. He was asked what made them release 2 on Playstation and he said fans asking for it and internal data from other game sales. I do think they skipped xbox due to low sales anyway but he didn't even mention that platform or the reason.

 

[Fbh]

You telling me the audience that only accounted for like 20% of the launch sales of FFXV isn't super into retro turn based JRPGs?

 

[BennyBlanco]

You telling me the audience that only accounted for like 20% of the launch sales of FFXV isn't super into retro turn based JRPGs?

FFXV stinks. Can’t blame anyone for not buying it.

 

[Pedro Motta]

 

[Captain Toad]

he didn't even mention that platform or the reason.

He said it didn't release on "other platforms" because of low sales for those games.

Let's see. Octopath Traveler 2 released on PlayStation, Switch and PC. What other platforms do you really think he was referring to?

 

[Punished Miku]

He's not saying what you guys think he is saying. And the question honestly doesn't even technically make sense because he asks the question framed in a way that the game is now changing to being multiplatform just in the sequel. The first was also multiplatform.

The tweet also totally twists what he said. The whole part of the tweet before the quoted part was literally never said. He was only speaking in regards to why it is on PS and was only asked about PS.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

He said it didn't release on "other platforms" because of low sales for those games.

Let's see. Octopath Traveler 2 released on PlayStation, Switch and PC. What other platforms do you really think he was referring to?

OUYA

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

He's not saying what you guys think he is saying. And the question honestly doesn't even technically make sense because he asks the question framed in a way that the game is now changing to being multiplatform just in the sequel. The first was also multiplatform.

The tweet also totally twists what he said. The whole part of the tweet before the quoted part was literally never said. He was only speaking in regards to why it is on PS and was only asked about PS.

so...what is he saying?. i'm lost.

 

[Punished Miku]

so...what is he saying?. i'm lost.

He was asked why part 2 is on PS. He responded saying they observed sales on PS for other titles and that is why the game is on PS.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

He was asked why part 2 is on PS. He responded saying they observed sales on PS for other titles and that is why the game is on PS.

did Octo 1 was on PlayStation?

 

[Punished Miku]

did Octo 1 was on PlayStation?

No.

 

[Art The Clown]

Octopath 2 is my GOTY so far and if other greats weren’t coming out this year it would be a lock already.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

No.

im confused....did octo was on xbox?

 

[Punished Miku]

im confused....did octo was on xbox?

Yes.

 

[Danjin44]

He was asked why part 2 is on PS. He responded saying they observed sales on PS for other titles and that is why the game is on PS.

Still doesn’t change the fact the reason Octopath 2 is not on Xbox because the audience in not on there. This is same reason why games like Tactics Ogre, Atelier Ryza 3, GrimGrimore Oncemore, Great Ace Attorney and even Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster is not coming to Xbox and people can’t tell me it’s because “Sony pay money for those games”.

Thats only true for FFXVI but not for those games I mention above.

 

[Puscifer]

You don't have to look further than Lost Odyssey to see this truth. Microsoft gave it an honest shot. They made a truly great JRPG (they also made Blue Dragon) as an exclusive for Xbox 360, their console with their largest install base ever.

And most Xbox fans still said, "nah, we're good. Not our thing."

Man Lost Odyssey being locked into Xbox makes me sad. That game needs at least a PC port, there's some flat out AMAZING songs on the soundtrack. Some of Uetmatsus best work is there, unheard!

Also just to add, Mistwalker was started with Microsoft money which makes the situation when worse to capture the Japanese audience and they just don't want it.


Edit: listening to this song again I'm amazed how well the lyrics fit the story.

 

[feynoob]

Xbox needs to grow their japanese audience.

Most japanese people who own xbox have PS/Nintendo. They buy those games from those system, which affects the sales of Xbox copies.

Until MS fixes that issue, the sales would be bad.

 

[Punished Miku]

Still doesn’t change the fact the reason Octopath 2 is no Xbox because the audience in not on there. This is same reason why games like Tactics Ogre, Atelier Ryza 3, GrimGrimore Oncemore, Great Ace Attorney and even Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster is not coming to Xbox and people can’t tell me it’s because “Sony pay money for those games”.

That only true for FFXVI but not for those games I mention above.

Believe what you like. Sounds like you made up your mind.

I'd rather wait to see some kind of official confirmation. If any money was paid, they're not allowed to discuss it. In this article, I personally think people are misreading it. But the whole thing is framed strangely so I can't blame them too much.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Yes.

Wat?.

so:
Octo 1 was:
Nintendo
Xbox
PlayStation



Octo 2:
Nintendo
PlayStation
Xbox

but then:

something is very weird about this.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Xbox needs to grow their japanese audience.

Most japanese people who own xbox have PS/Nintendo. They buy those games from those system, which affects the sales of Xbox copies.

Until MS fixes that issue, the sales would be bad.

go and apply for the Xbox CEO position. i bet you could save that division

 

[Danjin44]

Believe what you like. Sounds like you made up your mind.

I'd rather wait to see some kind of official confirmation. If any money was paid, they're not allowed to discuss it. In this article, I personally think people are misreading it. But the whole thing is framed strangely so I can't blame them too much.

I just don’t see the reason for Sony to pay for games like Octopath 2 and still release it to other system other than Xbox. Sony actual payed for FFXVI thats only releasing on Playstation and maybe later on PC

 

[MacReady13]

buying this game

Hence why it's on Playstation and not on it's competition...

 

[adamsapple]

Wat?.

so:
Octo 1 was:
Nintendo
Xbox
PlayStation



Octo 2:
Nintendo
PlayStation
Xbox

but then:

something is very weird about this.

The game(s) just didn't sell regardless of platform. The money they would get for a game pass deal would likely surpass the revenue they generated from sales.

 

[Punished Miku]

I just don’t see the reason for Sony to pay for games like Octopath 2 and still release it to other system other than Xbox. Sony actual payed for FFXVI thats only releasing on Playstation and maybe later on PC

Octo 1 was on GP so it was probably one of the only new JRPGs to stand a chance of having a fan base interested in the sequel. Sony can probably lock it up pretty cheaply.

Not sure how anyone can really argue there's zero interest in FF Pixel Remasters on Xbox. Its literally the biggest SQEX series.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

The game(s) just didn't sell regardless of platform. The money they would get for a game pass deal would likely surpass the revenue they generated from sales.

its pretty clear octo 1 sold very well (on nintendo).

octo 2:

the news here is not that the sequel skipped xbox ( like...how many copies are we talking about? 12 ).


EDIT:
OHHHH I get it know... This is indeed about Xbox. yikes
If Octo 1 was on Game Pass and not enough people play it to grant the sequel a release on Xbox.

i think that is pretty bad. (even worse than the narrative of "poor sales on Xbox")

 

[Danjin44]

Octo 1 was on GP so it was probably one of the only new JRPGs to stand a chance of having a fan base interested in the sequel. Sony can probably lock it up pretty cheaply.

But if thats the case wouldn't make more sense for Sony try to prevent the game releasing on Switch? Since the first game was exclusive to Switch when it first launched and most audience who looking forward to sequel would be on Switch.

Not sure how anyone can really argue there's zero interest in FF Pixel Remasters on Xbox. Its literally the biggest SQEX series.

That one I agree, FF is big name, it might not sell as much on PS5 and Switch but it would still sale decently on Xbox.

 

[Punished Miku]

But if thats the case wouldn't make more sense for Sony try to prevent the game releasing on Switch? Since the first game was exclusive to Switch when it first launched and most audience who looking forward to sequel would be on Switch.


That one I agree, FF is big name, it might not sell as much on PS5 and Switch but it would still sale decently on Xbox.

SQEX will probably not agree to block it on Switch. Its by far the biggest platform for them in Japan. Non-negotiable. Nintendo also probably helps fund many of the HD2D stuff.

 

[Sleepwalker]

The reason Octopath 1 is on xbox is because they got a bag of money to put it on gamepass, the reason Octopath 2 is not on xbox is because they didn't get a second bag (yet)

 

[nikolino840]

so? if I understand right.
he is saying Xbox sells numbers are too low?

Is math... a % of 50m installed base will be always smaller then a % of 150m installed base .... even if everyone who has an xbox (100% of buyers) buy a game will be always less then then the 50% of PlayStation buyers

 

[Danjin44]

SQEX will probably not agree to block it on Switch. Its by far the biggest platform for them in Japan. Non-negotiable. Nintendo also probably helps fund many of the HD2D stuff.

That kind of makes sense, I would imagine Sony would had to pay A LOT more money to prevent from releasing on Switch.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Is math... a % of 50m installed base will be always smaller then a % of 150m installed base .... even if everyone who has an xbox (100% of buyers) buy a game will be always less than the 50% of PlayStation buyers

is not about that. Octo 1 was available on Game Pass. is not about sales. is about engagement through the service.

 

[adamsapple]

The reason Octopath 1 is on xbox is because they got a bag of money to put it on gamepass, the reason Octopath 2 is not on xbox is because they didn't get a second bag (yet)

Basically this.

They'll get a sack of money and it will probably have been more than the game earns in revenue, in the west at least.

 

[Punished Miku]

That kind of makes sense, I would imagine Sony would had to pay A LOT more money to prevent from releasing on Switch.

Exactly. Its probably very cheap to block these games on Xbox. Not saying I know it happened because I don't know.

Maybe some day we'll get a clear answer.

 

[adamsapple]

Maybe some day we'll get a clear answer.

I doubt it, the amount of redaction and scissor icons in all the recent documents and findings tells me that info like this will never be public, at least.

 

[feynoob]

go and apply for the Xbox CEO position. i bet you could save that division

 

[bender]

He said it didn't release on "other platforms" because of low sales for those games.

Let's see. Octopath Traveler 2 released on PlayStation, Switch and PC. What other platforms do you really think he was referring to?

Ouya

 

[ProtoByte]

Is math... a % of 50m installed base will be always smaller then a % of 150m installed base .... even if everyone who has an xbox (100% of buyers) buy a game will be always less then then the 50% of PlayStation buyers

And that's a big if. It's been shown that non-lowest casual denominator 3rd party games sell disproportionately higher on PlayStation. This was before Gamepass too.

 

[Corndog]

So what everyone already knew, but not everyone was wanting to admit.

If it’s on pc, it makes no sense not to be on Xbox.

 

[Corndog]

And that's a big if. It's been shown that non-lowest casual denominator 3rd party games sell disproportionately higher on PlayStation. This was before Gamepass too.

What the heck is a “non lowest casual denominator”?
Also source.